Health Secretary updates Moray MP on Dr Gray’s maternity unit
Moray MP Douglas Ross has called on the Scottish Government to take immediate action to address the concerns of mums-to-be in Moray who continue to be worried about the downgrading of maternity services, despite a draft plan to resolve the situation having been submitted by NHS Grampian to Jeane Freeman MSP the Cabinet Secretary for Health.
Douglas made his comments after holding a conference call with Ms Freeman on Monday afternoon where he pressed her to make her findings and the plan public and outline a solution sooner rather than later.
Commenting Douglas said: “Following a second request to her office, I have now held a conference call with the health secretary and while I welcome the fact we have discussed this crucial issue, the public still haven’t seen the draft plan and are still seeking answers.
“The health secretary has however agreed to my request to outline her findings of the draft report which she is viewing alongside the KEEPMum comments and this is also extremely important as NHS Grampian refused to include any of their proposals in the report.
“Disappointingly, the health minister has not given any re-assurances about immediate solutions to the downgrading of the maternity unit so mums who are about to give birth in the coming days, weeks and months are understandably still anxious about the situation.
“I also pressed Ms Freeman about the fact that the public didn’t get to see the report before it was submitted to her, but she has at least agreed to share it when she presents her opinion on the document.
“While the report was prepared by NHS Grampian, Scottish Government officials have been heavily involved and the SNP health minister has to accept that on her watch the Scottish Government has not been forthcoming with a solution; we need action as a matter of urgency. Given local campaigners have said they cannot accept what they understand NHS Grampian submitted to the Scottish Government, we need to know what the next steps will be from the Heath Secretary to deal with the situations hundreds of pregnant mums and their families are facing in Moray.”